DICE-UP

UPSKILLING THE NATION’S DIGITAL CONTENT CREATORS

Malaysia, as it now stands, has become a regional hub for creative content development and is now looking to amplify its capabilities and take on the role of a regional powerhouse. Critical to this is the continuous growth and development of the digital creative content industry. This includes developing, expanding, and evolving the core pillars for this space, such as videogames and e-games, digital arts, creative writing, visual effects, and animation.

There are multiple initiatives that digital content creators can consider to sign-up for – from grants to pitches, varied industry networking sessions, and ecosystem support. Key among them is the Digital Content Enrichment & Upskilling Programme (DICE-UP).

What is DICE-UP?

DICE-UP is an initiative that provides financial incentives, up to RM10,000, on skills development to strengthen and further grow the digital creative content industry. At the same time, it will also focus on improving the sustainability and even future-proofing the digital creative content ecosystem.

An approved curated list of industry-relevant course that focuses on skills acceleration based on the skills gap in digital creative content industry.

It covers four (4) types of courses which are

  • masterclass;
  • workshop;
  • short course; and
  • online course

with a duration of at least

  • five (5) days to a maximum of three (3) months for a minimum of six (6) hours lesson per day; or
  • 30 hours lesson in total for the maximum duration of three (3) months

SCOPE

An approved curated list of industry-relevant course that focuses on skills acceleration based on the skills gap in digital creative content industry.

It covers four (4) types of courses which are

  • masterclass;
  • workshop;
  • short course; and
  • online course

with a duration of at least

  • five (5) days to a maximum of three (3) months for a minimum of six (6) hours lesson per day; or
  • 30 hours lesson in total for the maximum duration of three (3) months

The approved curated list of industry-relevant courses are below:

Animation/VFX

Game

Gnomon - School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation: HARD SURFACE MODELING 2UNITY: Unity Certified Expert Gameplay Programmer
Gnomon - School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation: CREATURE MODELING AND SCULPTINGUNITY: Unity Certified User: Programmer
Gnomon - School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation: LOOK DEVELOPMENTUNITY: Unity Certified Expert Technical Artist: Shading & Effects
Gnomon - School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation: HARD SURFACE MODELING 1UNITY: Unity Certified Expert Technical Artist _ Rigging and Animation
Gnomon - School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation: CHARACTER ANIMATION 3UNITY: Unity Certified Programmer
Gnomon - School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation: LIGHTING AND RENDERING 2Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA): LIMA's CLS Programme
New York Film Academy _ Producing School: 4_WEEK PRODUCING WORKSHOP
New York Film Academy _ Producing School: 8_WEEK PRODUCING WORKSHOP
NYU School of Professional Studies: Certificate in Television and Screenwriting
Screenwriters University: Story Development and Outlining
Gobelins School _ Programmes Abroad: WORKSHOPS IN CHARACTER ANIMATION
The Writers College Online Course for A Career in Writing: Scriptwriting Course
Screenwriters University: Beginning Feature Film Writing: Acts II & III
Screenwriters University: Beginning Feature Film Writing: Outline and Act One
Screenwriters University: Beginning Television Writing
Screenwriters University: The Fundamentals of Screenwriting: Give Your Script a Solid Foundation
Screenwriters University: Writing the Animated Feature Film
John Hughes Institute : Production Management Workflow
Gobelins School _ Summer Schools: Summer school in Visual Storytelling (level 2)
Screenwriters University: Beginning Feature Film Writing
Screenwriters University: Writing the Family Feature Film
Gotham Writers: Screenwriting I
Gotham Writers: Scripts in Focus
Screenwriters University: Writing the Comedy Feature Film
Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA): LIMA's CLS Programme

Amount Incentive

Up to RM10,000 for the course fee and/or airfare and/or accommodation.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Applicant is required to meet the following criteria at all times:

The Company

  • The applicant is a company incorporated in Malaysia.
  • The applicant has not been incentivised for the same program from any entity.
  • The Applicant is not the subject of a winding up order and has no going concern issue
  • The Applicant is a digital creative content company involves in the animation or game development or VFX.
  • The Applicant has a minimum of three (3) years track record in animation or game development or VFX works either as an outsourced service provider or in creation of original works.

The Candidate

  • The Candidate is a Malaysian citizenship.
  • The Candidate is a fulltime industry practitioner with a minimum of one (1) year experiences in digital creative content industry.
  • The Candidate must be employed in the applicant’s/employer’s company as at the date of application.
  • The Candidate has a minimum of one (1) year track record in animation or game development works or VFX either as an outsourced service provider or in creation of original works.
  • The Candidate must have confirmed his/her registration with training provider for training course or on-job-training placement which will take place no later than there (3) months from the date of application;
  • The Candidate is required to submit and produce evidence of appointment letter;

DISBURSEMENT GUIDELINES

  • MDEC to reimburse the actual amount to the applicant/employer in the event where the applicant/employer has already made direct payment to the service provider supported by receipt for Course Fee/ Return Airfares (Economy Class)/ Accommodation;
  • Application for disbursement shall be made by applicant/employer within fourteen (14) days upon course completion in which the manner of disbursement is through online payment/issuance of cheque or wire transfer.